London 12th May 2012: Hundreds of people attended a protest in London, outside the Churchill Hyatt Regency Hotel, where Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was staying during his trip to London.

The protest, organized at short notice by Hizb ut-Tahrir [HuT] in Britain, followed the abduction of Naveed Butt, the Spokesman for Hizb ut-Tahrir in Pakistan, by security agencies in Pakistan.

Naveed Butt, who holds a Masters degree in Engineering, and who is well known in media circles in Pakistan for his intelligent and firm political argument, is the latest in a line of respected figures in Pakistan abducted and detained by the security agencies. These include renowned Dental surgeon Dr Abdul Qayum and Chartered Accountant Imran Yousufzai – as well as other who are thinkers, academics, professional and even nuclear physicists accused of being sympathetic to Hizb ut-Tahrir’s vision for Khilafat in Pakistan; the most high profile case to date being that of Brigadier Ali Khan.

The protest was addressed by senior Hizb ut-Tahrir member Dr Imran Waheed, as well as by community leaders from London’s Pakistani Muslim community like Naseem Akhtar and Mushtaq Raja, and by former Associate-Professor from Punjab University, Professor Muhammad Nawaaz – who is a personal acquaintance of Naveed Butt. Dr Abdul Wahid – chairman of the UK-Executive Committee of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Britain, chaired the event.

Dr Imran Waheed said that Naveed Butt had been abducted because he was the currently the foremost spokesman for Khilafat in Pakistan and had repeatedly denounced the corrupt government and military leadership for their betrayal of Pakistan and collusion with America in its war on Pakistan. He questioned how could people stay silent when General Kayani, PM Gilani & President Zardari had surrendered Pakistan’s sovereignty to America, who it was revealed yesterday have been training their soldiers in how to make an all-out war on Islam, which even targeted the holy cities of Makkah & Madinah with nuclear weapons. He said that Naveed Butt had specifically highlighted General Kayani’s role in the Abbotabad raid, the NATO attack on Salala, the re-opening of the NATO supply lines – as well as the Gilani government’s role in the Raymond Davis affair and their failure to lift a finger to help Dr Aafia Siddiqui.

He called out a reminder to Yusuf Raza Gilani to remember the fate of Muammar Gaddafi, Hosni Mubarak and Saddam Hussein – all of whom had persecuted members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, worked against Islam and Muslims and colluded with Western colonial governments – and said that this, inshallah , would be the fate for the current regime in Pakistan.

Dr Waheed challenged PM Gilani to put up his government’s best man to debate with Hizb ut-Tahrir, instead of their resorting to thuggish abduction and torture to silence their critics. He demanded the release of Naveed Butt, and called people to support the call for Khilafat in Pakistan – the cause that Naveed Butt had dedicated his life to in his work with HuT. The Khilafat, he said, would not only set Pakistan on a path independent of America, Britain and NATO’s colonial policies; it would also end the humiliation currently meted out to Pakistan by India through its foothold in Afghanistan & murderous occupation of Kashmir. He also addressed how an Islamic constitution would enshrine real systems of accountability of the government, and an economic policy based on Islam that would circulate money for the people – and not for the pockets of corrupt thieves like Gilani & Zardari.

This point was echoed by community leader Naseem Akhtar, who said he had looked at Hizb ut-Tahrir’s economic proposal based on Islam, which would end the crippling $9 billion interest payments on Pakistan’s neck. This ‘sood’ [interest] on the $130 billion debt was not just politically suicidal but complete haram according the laws of Allah. He said whilst everyone knew the politicians were corrupt, only people like Naveed Butt and Hizb ut-Tahrir have demonstrating the extent of systemic corruption, and calling for a radical change of system.

Mushtaq Raja added to this point that men, women and children spilled their blood making Hijrah to Pakistan in 1947 thinking they were to an establish an Islamic state. Yet, to this day innocent children have to drink filthy water and do not get basic health care, whilst the likes of Gilani, Zardari & Kayani stay in luxurious 5-star hotels in London.

Professor Nawaaz told the crowds gathered that people in Pakistan were looking for leaders and statesmen like Naveed Butt – sincere in their commitment, strong in the Eeman, courageous in the stance towards the regime, family men with an educated and professional background – and made dua that Allah would release him soon.

The gathering closed with a dua asking Allah Almighty to help the Muslims across the world with His Victory, the removal of these puppet regimes and the establishment of the righteous Khilafat.

One Comment

PM Gilani may send thugs to abduct the sincere and brave members of Hizb ut Tahrir, but this will not silence the call for change. The dawa continues until the last man standing or until the just government of Islam is established once again. This has made me more resolved to work harder in the da’wa and May Allah ta’ala accept our efforts.